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1 For Property Owners in Red Hook, Sunset Park, and Gowanus A Guide to New National Flood Maps & New National Flood Insurance Program Premiums and Requirements From the FEMA video, FEMA Region 2 Coastal Outreach. If you live or work in a coastal area, you have a responsibility to know your risk, know your role, and take action to reduce your flood risk.

2 This Guide can be downloaded from and can also be found on

3 Dear Neighbors, At the time that super storm SANDY hit our communities, FEMA was in the process of updating the nation s flood maps for the first time in over 25 years. Many things have changed in that time, including where people have chosen to live and, more importantly, weather patterns and the increasing likelihood of sea rise from global warming. The new maps are still under official review and will not be officially in use for two years, but I feel property owners in affected areas need to know right now what is being planned because it will greatly impact your plans for rebuilding. In this guide you will find: A short summary of what FEMA is proposing, and why What this will mean to future flood insurance rates What this will mean to your rebuilding options A paper from FEMA explaining the new map procedures in more detail, along with links to other documents and an excellent tool for examining your precise elevation requirements Slides from a recent FEMA presentation that can inform your understanding of the challenging choices ahead. What FEMA is Proposing The FEMA maps upon which National Flood Insurance Program rates rely are called Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM.) Some of these maps are over 25 years old. New FIRM maps are being developed by FEMA. FEMA has issued preliminary elevation maps that will be part of the process of developing new maps; these are called Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFE.) The process for developing the new maps will take several years, but preliminary maps are expected to be issued in late summer. This will be followed by a 90 day public comment period. FEMA will then analyze feedback and develop the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. The new maps will provide a much better picture of current flood risk than the existing maps. The new guidelines will apply not only to areas near the shore, but to areas near inland waterways like the Hudson and East Rivers, and the Gowanus Canal. What This Will Mean to Your Insurance Rates As a result of the Biggert-Waters Act, in several years the National Flood Insurance program will no longer be subsidized by the Federal government to the extent it is today. That in itself is going to lead to higher premiums. But your NFIP rates are going to be based on how you respond to the new Base Flood Elevations. As the name implies, these maps will detail how high you should elevate your property above the expected flood levels. 3 P a g e

4 From the FEMA presentation (section 3 of this document): What This Will Mean to Your Rebuilding Options As you can see from the above illustration, your flood insurance premiums are totally dependent on how you react to the new elevations levels being proposed by FEMA. Yes, they are saying that you should, if possible, elevate your building. The Base Flood Elevation is measured from the base of your building, as though it was constructed on a platform. It could be elevated on pillars. This may not be practical for many structures in our area. I Have a Row House: How Can I Elevate That? FEMA is proposing that structures that cannot be physically raised to 3 feet above the Base Flood Elevation be elevated by sacrificing the basement of the structure, and perhaps more. The areas that are sacrificed could not be left empty: they would have to be filled in with channels left in them from front to back for the flood waters to run through, as shown in the above illustration. To make up for this sacrificed space New York City is relaxing the zoning requirements to allow property owners to build additional space on top of their buildings. As you can see already, there is much to be considered in response to the new maps in development. In the material that follows you will find a lot to think about, and many resources you can call on with questions. If my office can be of service please reach out to us! Sincerely, Senator Velmanette Montgomery Senator Velmanette Montgomery 25 th Senate District Flow Channels 4 P a g e

5 Monday, February 25, 2013 DR-4085-NY FEMA Helpline: FEMA (3362) FEMA News Desk Fact Sheet ABFE 101 What is an Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE)? Advisory Base Flood Elevations (ABFEs) provide a better picture of current flood risk than the existing Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), which in some cases are more than 25-years old. The new ABFEs are the recommended elevation of the lowest floor of a building. Some communities may require that the lowest floor be built above the ABFE. New York s ABFEs are based on FEMA coastal studies that were completed before Hurricane Sandy. The studies include data that has been collected and analyzed over a number of years. Though advisory now, eventually information used to develop the ABFEs will be incorporated into official Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Where do I find my ABFE? FEMA Region II created a website with a tool to help you find the ABFE for your property. It is at Will I be able to find my exact base flood elevation? You can find the ABFE, or recommended lowest floor elevation for your home, at If the ABFE marker on the website does not find your exact house address, but it is close, click on the marker and drag it over your home s location to find the ABFE. How can I determine my current home elevation? A. It can be found on your elevation certificate (if you have a certificate). B. FEMA encourages you to consult your local building officials who may have existing elevations from the original building permit for your house. C. Hire a surveyor to determine your current home elevation level. 5 P a g e

6 ABFE 101 page 2 If I don t elevate, will my flood insurance go up? If your home is substantially damaged or destroyed, and you rebuild to the Base Flood Elevation on the currently effective FIRM, your insurance premiums will not increase for now. However, when the ABFEs become part of the next version of the flood maps (1-2 years), you may have to pay significantly higher premiums. How am I going to pay for this? Possibilities include: If you had a flood insurance policy before Hurricane Sandy you may be eligible for the Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) benefit. This can help cover some of the costs of complying with your community s floodplain ordinance, including elevating your home. ICC Fact Sheet is available at A Small Business Administration loan could provide additional financial assistance to elevate. There are no stand-alone loans for mitigation. You must apply first for a physical damage loan to be considered for a mitigation loan. Call the SBA Customer Service Center at ( Ask your local officials if they plan to apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds; you might be able to use HMGP funds for residential elevations. Now I know how much I need to elevate my house, where do I start? Contact your local building official to determine exactly what you are required to do to meet or exceed floodplain management and other reconstruction requirements. Take advantage of the technical documents FEMA and others have prepared to assist homeowners in making home rebuilding decisions. There are many publications; some related to rebuilding and available for download are listed below. Consult an architect, engineer and/or building construction professional. Professionals can guide you through the complexities of home elevation. 6 P a g e

21 Recovery Resources The NYS Department of Financial Service has activated a Disaster Hotline to answer consumer questions and help with problems. The Disaster Hotline number is It is currently staffed 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. on weekends. Homeowners unable to resolve disputes with insurers can file complaints at Storm Recovery Assistance Scams Form completion services. Beware of people charging a fee to help you complete disaster assistance forms, such as FEMA or SBA, or obtaining assistance checks. These services are provided free through FEMA and the Red Cross. Phony Inspectors. Never let anyone in until you have verified they have the appropriate credentials. Always ask for a telephone number so you can confirm the inspector is working for an authorized agency. Government Grant Offers. Be aware of entities offering "free grant money" for flood repair or disaster relief. A true grant is free and never requires any upfront fees or repayment. Check with a regional or state economic development office to see if they know of grant programs for which you might qualify, or contact your local social service agency for information or assistance. Advance Fee Loans. Advance fee loans are illegal. Ignore any company that guarantees you will receive a loan. Dishonest operators will charge a processing fee, and then promise they will find a lender. It is illegal to charge an up-front fee. Water Testing & Purifiers. Monitor local news media for instructions from health authorities regarding water safety and purification. Avoid offers for free home water testing, and be skeptical of claims that an in-home test shows your water is unsafe. If you have questions about the safety of your water, contact your local public health authority. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I hope you find this information useful and encouraging as you evaluate your options and make your personal recovery plans. The most positive things to emerge from SANDY are the demonstrations of resiliency and generosity in our wonderful communities. We got through SANDY, and we can handle whatever may come our way, together. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions or problems you may have. 21 P a g e

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